Biography

Selected by New England Patriots in the fifth round (159th overall) of the 2011 NFL Draft, April 30, 2011…Waived by Patriots, Sept. 3, 2011…Claimed via waivers by Buffalo Bills, Sept. 4, 2011…Signed by Oakland Raiders as an unrestricted free agent, March 11, 2015…Re-signed by Raiders as a free agent, March 16, 2018.

CAREER: Powerful tight end enters his fourth season with the Raiders after joining the team prior to 2015…Serves primarily as a blocking tight end…Has played in 35 game in three seasons for the Silver and Black…Appeared in all 16 games last year…Missed the majority of 2016 with an ankle injury that landed him on the Reserve/Injured List on Oct. 5…Set a career high with 12 receptions in his first year in Silver and Black in 2015…Played his first four seasons with the Buffalo Bills after being drafted by the New England Patriots…Has appeared in 91 games with 62 starts, totaling 46 receptions for 319 yards and four TDs…Set a career high with 78 receiving yards in 2013.

2017: Played in all 16 games for the first time with the Silver and Black…Added nine starts on the year...Finished with eight receptions for 76 yards...(9/10) at Ten.: Started in the season opener, appearing on both offense and special teams...(9/17) vs. NYJ: Contributed on offense and special teams, hauling in one reception for nine yards...(10/1) at Den.: Recorded a season-high two receptions for 15 yards...(10/8) vs. Bal.: Appeared on offense and special teams...(10/15) vs. LAC: Saw action on both offense and special teams...(10/19) vs. KC: Appeared on offense and special teams in the win...(10/29) at Buf.: On the opening drive of the game, hauled in a 21-yard pass from QB Derek Carr to set the offense up on the Bills’ 1-yard line...(11/5) at Mia.: Started in his fifth game of the season, appearing on both offense and special teams...(11/26) vs. Den.: Caught one pass for 12 yards in the win...(12/17) vs. Dal.: Started in the game and recorded one catch for three yards...(12/25) at Phi.: Caught two passes for 16 yards.

2016: Started in four games before suffering a season-ending ankle injury...Placed on the Reserve/Injured List on Oct. 5...Totaled six receptions for 29 yards...(9/11) at NO: Started in the season opener, seeing action on both offense and special teams...(9/18) vs. Atl.: Started and caught a career-high four passes for 24 yards...His 24 receiving yards are most as a Raider...(9/25) at Ten.: Started in the win, seeing action on both offense and special teams...Hauled in one catch for four yards...(10/2) at Bal.: Started in the comeback win, appearing on offense and special teams...Left the game in the second quarter with an ankle injury.

2015: Started a career-high 15 games in his first season with the Silver and Black...Recorded a career-high 12 receptions for 70 receiving yards and one TD...(9/13) vs. Cin.: Earned the start in his Raiders debut, seeing action on both offense and special teams...Returned a short kickoff from K Mike Nugent eight yards, his first career kickoff return...(9/20) vs. Bal.: Started for the second straight game and caught his first pass of the season for six yards...(9/27) at Cle.: Earned the start and hauled in one pass for eight yards...(10/4) at Chi.: Started and caught a season-high two passes for 14 yards...(10/25) at SD: Started in a two-tight end set and caught two passes for one yard...(11/1) vs. NYJ: Started in a two-tight end set and finished with one reception for six yards...(11/8) at Pit.: Earned the start and hauled in one pass for 10 yards...Eighth reception of the season set a new career high...(11/15) vs. Min.: Started at tight end and caught one pass for a 1-yard gain...(11/29) at Ten.: Returned to the starting lineup after sitting out one game with a wrist injury...Caught one pass for a 2-yard gain...(12/6) vs. KC: Started and recorded one reception, a 5-yard TD...Scored first TD as a Raider and the fourth of his career on a 5-yard pass from QB Derek Carr in the third quarter...(12/24) vs. SD: Started and recorded one reception for a season-long 17 yards.

2014 (with Buf.): Led all Bills tight ends with 10 starts, playing in 14 games and totaling seven catches for 42 yards…(9/28) at Hou.: Made his first start of the season at tight end…(10/26) at NYJ: Started at tight end and caught his first two passes and first TD of the season…Finished with two receptions for five yards and a 1-yard score…(11/9) vs. KC: Played a key role in an offensive attack that averaged 5.0 yards per rush…(11/13) at Mia.: Played in his 50th career game…(11/24) vs. NYJ: Totaled one reception for 12 yards…(12/7) at Den.: Posted one reception for six yards…(12/14) vs. GB: Registered two catches for one yard…(12/28) at NE: Tallied a season-long 18-yard reception.

2013 (with Buf.): Appeared in all 16 games with 14 starts, setting a career high with 78 receiving yards…Recorded five receptions for 78 yards on the year…(9/22) at NYJ: Made his first start of the season as the team opened in a two-tight end formation…(9/29) vs. Bal.: Started and recorded the longest reception of his career, a 28-yarder, in the third quarter…(10/20) at Mia.: Started and posted one catch for 18 yards…(11/17) vs. NYJ: Totaled one catch for one yard…(12/8) at TB: Hauled in one catch for seven yards…(12/22) vs. Mia.: Posted one reception for 24 yards.

2012 (with Buf.): Played in all 16 games for the first time in his career, making seven starts and recording the first two receiving TDs of his career…(9/9) at NYJ: Caught one pass for five yards in the season opener…(9/16) vs. KC: Made his first start of the season at tight end as the team opened in a two-tight end formation…(11/11) at NE: Hauled in his second reception of the season for five yards…(11/15) vs. Mia.: Appeared in his 20th career game…(11/25) at Ind.: Started and made his first career TD reception on a 1-yard pass…(12/9) vs. StL.: Started and registered a 2-yard TD pass in the third quarter.

2011 (with Buf.): Appeared in 10 games with three starts in his rookie season…Joined the Bills after the team claimed him off waivers from New England at the end of training camp…Placed on the Reserve/Injured List on Dec. 20…(10/2) at Cin.: Made his NFL debut…(10/9) vs. Phi.: Recorded his first career special teams tackle…(11/27) at NYJ: Made his first career start at tight end…(12/4) vs. Ten.: Totaled the first three catches of his career for 11 yards…(12/11) at SD: Started at tight end and made one catch for zero yards…(12/18) vs. Mia.: Started at tight end…Left the game in the second half with an ankle injury and did not return.

COLLEGE: Played four seasons at Marshall, appearing in 48 games…Totaled 75 receptions for 791 yards…Played in 12 games as a senior, earning All-Conference USA honors…Nominated for the Allstate Good Works Team…Finished with 38 receptions for 358 yards and three TDs…Appeared in 13 games as a junior, totaling 23 receptions for 335 yards…Named an honorable mention for the All-Conference USA team…Played in 12 games, starting seven, as a sophomore…Finished sixth on the team in receptions (12) and receiving yards (89)…Added two special teams tackles…Appeared in 11 games as a redshirt freshman, making two catches for nine yards…Majored in psychology and criminal justice.

PERSONAL: Attended Powell (Tenn.) High School…Played tight end and defensive end…Also played basketball…Father, Daryle, played on the offensive line at the University of Tennessee and spent six years in the NFL, playing with the Dallas Cowboys, Cleveland Browns and Philadelphia Eagles before spending four years in the CFL.